Thursday, July 5, 2012

A new friend

This is Snezhana, our beautiful new Swiss Shepherd. She is an exceedingly gentle dog, very affectionate and friendly. She's had her hair trimmed recently, but when it grows back she's supposed to look much more fluffy. Personally I've never even heard of white Shepherds before, and I think she's gorgeous! It's funny how we, both definitely not "dog persons" throughout our lives so far, became so taken with dogs during the year we've lived here.

8 comments:

HI Anna! I have been following your blog for a couple years now. Love it. The friend is BEAUTIFUL! A not on the haircut, I have been a professional dog groomer for 10 years, don't have the coat cut again. Shepherds are double coated dogs and the hair never grows back quite right and you can end up with some pretty nasty skin issues. And since this baby is white, her skin really does need the extra protection from the sun as well. I like to tell people their dogs coat is like the insulation in their house, without it you can't keep the heat or the cool air in. Dogs exchange hot air by panting, not thru the skin. Enjoy the new family member!

White shepherds are rare, some breeders consider them to be genetic mistakes and will kill them to keep the bloodline "pure", which I think is a horrible practice. Shepherds are great family dogs, they generally have a wonderful disposition and make great pets. They are naturally protective and most of them seem to love kids.

I know, I know. A good dog is a real blessing. I have one that is part Shepherd and part Lab with a heart as gentle as a lamb. Enjoy your friend. Is he staying cool enough in this heat? Mine likes to carve out a cool spot in the dirt under a shrub. :-)Mrs. L.

Christine, those were the people in the family from where the dog came who cut her hair, not us. I like my dogs fluffy :)

Otter Mom, as far as I know the White Shepherd is a breed that was derived from the German Shepherd by the continuous bringing out of the recessive white fur gene. White Shepherds are not albino. But anyway I can never imagine anyone killing an adorable puppy because it's white. Why not give it away?

She's absolutely wonderful with the kids. The girls just love her. I'm so glad they're not getting all my dog hang-ups I've had as a child.

That's what I was told by a breeder in my area. She said it's more commonly done in Europe but that some US breeders also do it. The white dog is not a seperate breed, just a shepherd with white fur. I don't know how widespread the practice is, but I still think it's wrong.

Oh, she's beautiful! I'm not ordinarily a dog person, either, but now and then I encounter one with such a wise, loving soul that I start to wonder why we don't have a dog. My son has recently figured this out, and is now actively campaigning for me to adopt one from our local shelter.

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Domestic Felicity is a journey of one woman who loves her family and home and seeks to live a simple, peaceful, and purposeful life. It is also a record of my daily joys and challenges and everything I'm learning as I walk along this path

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I'm a Jewish woman, a wife, a mother, a homemaker. A thinker, a dreamer, a learner. An avid cook and baker and a yarn addict. I love everything that has to do with home and family, and enjoy the solitude of my quiet corner, which is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Israel.